We are in a state of war yet unfortunately there are still many who prefer to pretend that this is not so.

Even prior to 1948, Palestinian Jews faced Arab terror attacks as they fulfilled their internationally legally sanctioned rights to settle and build a Jewish State. Once the British Mandate finished and independence was achieved, an official declaration of war by Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan followed with the rest of the Arab world eventually also joining the jihad bandwagon. Make no mistake. This marked a concerted attempt to annihilate the Jewish State at birth and massacre all its Jewish citizens. Incited by religious fanaticism, hate filled rhetoric and a blind obsession to murder and destroy, this failed attempt at genocide was only, at the time, the latest manifestation of unbridled enmity. Ever since then, Jewish Israelis have faced an unremitting torrent of violence. Apart from Egypt and Jordan, the rest of the Arab and a large part of the Moslem world still do not recognize the legitimacy of Israel. Despite specious claims to the contrary, the Arabs who claim to be Palestinian and are touted by the international community as our “peace partners” continue with the help of assorted terror groups to promote, foster and sponsor murder against Israeli citizens. In other words, they have, via their own actions and statements declared war.

Those of us who are exposed to this on a daily basis, whether via the media or as a result of being at the receiving end of terror and violence, know only too well the fatal results which occur. Amazingly however there are still some who live in a parallel universe and refuse to acknowledge reality or even if they do see reality prefer instead to blame the victims rather than the perpetrators. This blindness seems to be an ancient affliction and during our long history has impacted negatively and to the detriment of many Jews in various countries.The current tsunami of terror can only be understood in the context of various contributing factors. These include education, indoctrination, prejudice, intolerance, an addiction to violence as a means to resolve disputes, lack of democratic and liberal values and generally a total disregard for life and an unhealthy obsession with death and martyrdom. The phenomenon of children, women and adults all engaged in acts of mayhem and murder points to a major contributing factor. This is the brain washing which is taking place in schools, summer camps and other officially sanctioned places and of course also in the home.

William Shirer, the noted American journalist and historian, who wrote “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”, featured in a chilling documentary at the end of the war in which he documented how the brainwashing of German youths enabled the carrying out of the Final Solution. Watch it carefully because it will give you a clue as to how the present generation of Jew-haters is being indoctrinated in exactly the same manner.

Now take a look at a short documentary produced by the Center for Near East Policy Research which reveals how Arab youths are educated to murder Jews. It is chilling in its stark and unambiguous message of hate and delegitimisation.

Can any sensible person fail to recognize the similarities? Can any sane individual still believe that this new generation is going to transform into democratic loving adults who will live in peace, tolerance and harmony with Jews? Will these brain washed youngsters ever accept the reality of a Jewish State? Amazing as it may seem and despite all the evidence to the contrary there are politicians, opinion makers, media and foreign funded NGO’s who remain oblivious to the stark truths staring them in the face. Following this week’s wave of terror, Abbas, our alleged partner, stated: “this intifada is a popular peaceful uprising. Israel is causing damage to the holy places of Islam and Christianity, undertaking arrests, house demolitions, killing, expulsion and carrying out a siege on Gaza. I will never recognize Israel as a Jewish State.”

Meanwhile the official PA controlled media laud and praise the murderers of Israelis.Now what are the reactions?

The United Nations is more concerned with giving the Palestinian Arabs a free pass and enforcing Jew free areas in Israel’s Capital.The US State Department issues a statement “we continue to encourage all parties to take affirmative steps to reduce tensions and restore calm.” All this as Israelis are knifed and gunned down. Note the obscene moral equivalency in this statement. Shimon Peres says we are waging a battle for peace and a two State solution. The inane insanity of this remark in the face of all evidence to the contrary is supported by others whose primary belief is that we are to blame for our own misfortunes. Ironically the Jaffa/ Tel Aviv terror attack took place just down the road from where Peres and Joe Biden were engaged in a mutual admiration festival. Obviously the mayhem on the streets did not seem to induce any sort of sense of reality.

This warped original sin syndrome is also shared by a motley assortment of others from “left field” who excuse the terror against Israelis by saying that we must give the stabbers and murderers “hope.” Apparently as we are not rewarding their frustrations with enough suicidal gestures we deserve all we get. The totally delusional state of mind of some politicians is exemplified by the remarkable observation of Tzipi Livni who at the moment is co-leader of what was once the Labour Party. According to her, the US Vice President’s visit to Israel could be an opportunity to lower the flames of Israeli-Palestinian tensions! Anything more detached from reality is hard to find. Joe Biden’s contribution was to observe that the current wave of violence cannot be ended by force alone. Presumably it also has to be accompanied by suitable rewards which in former times were called appeasement.

Missing from all these missives of delusion is an acknowledgement that in actual fact our misnamed peace partners have never abandoned the declarations written in their charters which call for the dismemberment of Israel and the denial of the Jewish historical and legal rights to this Land. Absent is a demand for the complete cessation of incitement, hate education and promotion of terror. Our own Governments over the years have failed to accept that in a situation where total war has been declared we need to abandon futile gestures, take off the gloves and clean out the nests of terror. If we are not prepared to do it why should we expect the rest of the world to act? The virus of Judeophobia in all its manifestations is alive and well but for the first time in two thousand years we are in a position to do something about it.In his famous speech to Congress and the Senate after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour, President Roosevelt declared: we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but we will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.”Should we, who have been subjected to far more lethal treachery, do less?

Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel and is J-Wire’s correspondent in the region.